The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-01-19
THE FARM BUDGET.
Horses and Cslts-Ksuy Cattls-Fattening
Turksys-Msre Food.
DairT Scr oOIs in EurOpe-Care of Ewes-The
Best DEMONSTRATING Food for Stock
Potato Rot-Farm Notes, Etc.
Horses aud Colts.
Rural New Yorker. /

Rural New Yorker
If every farmer has not kept an account
with his live stock, the beginning OF a new
year is a good time TO make a start. 1t Is
indispensable to know il the stock pay for
Their feed, and which of them do and do
not. There are thousands of animals which
are always in debt to their owners and are
kept out of the profits of the better ones.
The new year is good time tor wedding out
the poor animals and getting rid of them on
the best terms, and so saving the feed they
would consume. Stock are useful as manure
makers, but 1t will never pay a farmer to
keep them for this sole purpose. The manure
must be an incidental profit of the feeding.
The animals must be made to pay a direct
profit for their feeding, or the farmer had
better be without them Fodder is scarce.
The winter has opened roughly and
no one can tell how 1t will end. One
should always prepare for the worst, and
then he can never be hurt, whatever may
happen. Therefore the greatest economy
should be observed in the feeding. It is not
unusual TO see horses standing in the hay
which they have pulled out of the racks,
thus wasting a large portion of their food.
The whole grain, too, is often largely wasted
in the manure. This is ruinous manage
ment. Feeding horses from racks is, more.
over, an injurious practice, aud causes them
to breathe dust from the hay and endaugers
the eyes. Cut food moistened with warm
water is better in every way; saves the hay
and grain; aids digestion, and avoids chill
ing the animals. A feeding-room, provided
with an iron boiler set in stone or brick
work, will be a great pleasure to the farmer
and to the animals as well. Much of the
winters work is done here, and the farmer
should make this provision If only for his
own comfort. An earth floor and pIastered
walls and ceiling and tall brick or terra
cOrta-pipe chimney will be entirely safe.
In ehOeiup the hOrsog-to avoid halliuO If
the snow on the feet-have the shoes worked
down to a knife edge on the inside, and
made to fit close to the sole. The snow and
ice viii not then pack IN the shoe. For the
protection OF the ankles use leather shields
to prevent cutting by the calks. Movable
steel calks which are screwed into the shoes
are the best and safest provision against
slipping on icy roads. When not required,
and when the horses are in the stables the
calks are quickly removed with a wrench
They are easily made by blacksmith; three
IN each shoe are enough. Use the card IN
preference to a curry-cOmb freely, but the
b ush Is especially useful and beneficial to
the horse. A still bruSh-a steel-wire one is
e1cellent-having q leather strap across to
sip the hand into for q holder Is very handy.
When horses coat shines IN the winter tue
owners mind may be easy; when il is rough
and stands on end the horse is suffering.
Don't forget daily allowance OF salt. Oats
are the best grain for colts, which need
to have their bony frame work built up and
srrenethened- Bran IS equally good for them
and for brood mares, aud a warmed bran
mash given to a colt three times week will
make great difference in disappearance and
growth By the spring. The winter is a good
time for training Young colts both in aud out
OF the stable. Watch carefully that these
young animals are not spoiled by teasing
Yearlings may be used to harness and do
some light work about the farm. It will not
injUre them in the least and will be useful
a light harness and wagon or sled may be
kept for this purpose. A pair Of colts well
reared every year will return more profit
than any other part of farm work. Along
with careful attention to the colts do MOI
forget the brood mares and supply these
with frequent messes of warm bran. Also
carefully avoid all rough usage and ice-coId
drinking wa.sr which is dangerous to the ex.
pected colt.